What would you guys do? NNBS 5.3 or NBS 6.0?

[bradshow]

Here's my dilema. 04 GMC Sierra Z71, 5.3 with no oil pressure. I'm calling my gut feeling that its an internal issue and not the pump so I need to replace the engine. I do not want to have to get rid of my 4l60 yet or for a while. This truck is a DD with minimal off road use and makes frequent 600 mile round trips on the highway so I'd like to maintain as good of mpgs as I can get.

Option 1: Approx. $3000 for a brand new OEM GM 5.3 (58x), fully dressed long block (intake, injectors, coil packs, oil pump, headers, pulley's, etc), 58-24x converter box, misc wiring adapters to make the engine a full plug and play.

Option 2: Reman LQ4 off ebay for $2800, I would have to swap all my stock stuff onto this block, all has 130k miles of use. So I would probably buy a new water pump at least.
Then I would have to get a tune and worry about how long my 4l60 would last.

I do plan on adding a Trick turbo setup at the end of the year not for crazy power but to help with any towing I might do and just because I want one.

I don't want to buy a junkyard 6.0 as odds are it will have to be rebuilt sooner or later and I'm in the same situation right now. I just want to get the truck back up and running and worry free for a while.

Shoot away....

[NAREJEPP]

I would go with the 5.3 personally. by the time you get everything you need for the LQ4 swap, you're going to be well over the 3k for the 5.3, and it will be with a motor that already has 130k miles on it.

with you just wanting it up and running and reliable, that 5.3 sounds like a sweet deal. and if you do boost it, you'll more than be making up the power differences.

and that's not to mention how the 5.3 swap will be a plug and play affair. just my two cents

[AFSP1211]

I say find a used 5.3 from a reputtable supplier, swap over all you accessories and buy a new water pump. You should still have some $ left over for some small, but useful, trans upgrades i.e. servos. Thats just what I would do. Or maybe try to track down what the issue is with your current engine.

[kerrige]

Personally I would get a junkyard 6.O they can be had for way less than that and I doubt it will need a rebuild soon unless its already messed up. These things run forever although the top end can be weaker...... lifters, pushrods, etc.

[immofenep]

What do you think will the real Barcelona to catch up?

[kerrige]

What do you think will the real Barcelona to catch up?

What the hell?

[bradshow]

Looks like a spammer attack...lol

It did cross my mind to get a junkyard 6.0 and toss on a pair of new l92 heads and a different cam. How strong are the bottom ends on the stock 6.0s? Should I look for a lq4 or lq9 and how will I know the difference? I want to keep within the 03-05 model year so theres no additional hiccups.

[dfarr67]

If you throw a properly designed turbo at it I don't think it matters what you have- I would go low mileage 5.3L, I'm dealing with a high dollar rebuild that is below expectations.

[NAREJEPP]

Looks like a spammer attack...lol

It did cross my mind to get a junkyard 6.0 and toss on a pair of new l92 heads and a different cam. How strong are the bottom ends on the stock 6.0s? Should I look for a lq4 or lq9 and how will I know the difference? I want to keep within the 03-05 model year so theres no additional hiccups.

they hold up well. if i'm not mistaken, the only difference between the LQ4 and LQ9 is that the LQ9 has flat top pistons, giving it a little bump in compression and in turn bhp. it's not much though